Orthodontic Brackets

Abstract

An orthodontic bracket comprising: a base having a rear surface and a front surface, the rear surface configured to be adhered to a surface of a tooth (outside/labial and/or inside/lingual) in use; and an archwire holder which is rotationally mounted to the front surface of the base, the archwire holder being configured to be rotatable around an axis which is perpendicular to the base to within +/−30°, wherein the archwire holder comprises at least one slot configured to hold an archwire in use, and wherein the archwire holder is rotatable for receiving the archwire and applying a desired amount and/or orientation of tip and/or torque to the tooth in use.

1 . An orthodontic bracket comprising:
 a base having a rear surface and a front surface, the rear surface configured to be adhered to a surface of a tooth in use; and   an archwire holder which is rotationally mounted to the front surface of the base, the archwire holder being configured to be rotatable around an axis which is perpendicular to the base to within +/−30′,   wherein the archwire holder comprises at least one slot configured to hold an archwire in use, and   wherein the archwire holder is rotatable for receiving the archwire and applying a desired amount and/or orientation of torque to the tooth in use.   
     
     
         2 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the archwire holder is rotatable for receiving the archwire and applying a desired amount and/or orientation of both tip and torque to the tooth in use. 
     
     
         3 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the archwire holder comprises a plurality of slots disposed at different angular orientations, each slot being configured to hold an archwire in use, and   wherein the plurality of slots each have a different configuration to apply a different amount and/or orientation of tip and/or torque to the tooth in use, the archwire holder being rotated to select a desired slot for receiving the archwire in order to apply a desired amount and/or orientation of tip and/or torque to the tooth in use.   
     
     
         4 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable locking mechanism configured to allow the archwire holder to be rotated around the axis of rotation and locked in a plurality of angular orientations, the archwire holder being rotated and locked in place for receiving the archwire in order to apply the desired amount and/or orientation of tip and/or torque to the tooth in use. 
     
     
         5 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 4 , further comprising a spring, wherein the locking mechanism comprises the spring, which is resiliently biased against cooperating components on the base and/or the archwire holder to lock the parts in place in use. 
     
     
         6 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the archwire holder comprises a plurality of rotational positions n for selecting the slot. 
     
     
         7 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 6 , wherein the archwire holder is further configured to comprise a plurality of rotational sub-positions for each of the rotational positions n for varying an orientation of the selected slot. 
     
     
         8 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are configured to provide different amounts and/or orientations of torque whereby one or more of the slots is selectable to receive the archwire or other orthodontic brace devices in use via rotation of the archwire holder around said axis, the selected slot being oriented for receiving the archwire to apply the desired amount and/or orientation of torque. 
     
     
         9 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 8 , wherein each slot has a different internal shape or orientation to provide different amounts and/or orientations of torque. 
     
     
         10 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein for each slot the archwire holder is configured to enable selection of a plurality of angular orientations of the slot when the archwire is disposed in the slot to adjust the amount and/or orientation of tip whereby the archwire holder has a plurality of positions corresponding to selection of a slot and a plurality of positions for the selected slot to adjust the amount and/or orientation of tip. 
     
     
         11 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the archwire holder is configured to be rotatable only around the axis which is perpendicular to the base to within +/−30°. 
     
     
         12 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the slots are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the base to within +/−45° for insertion of the archwire. 
     
     
         13 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the slots are oriented in a plane parallel to the base to within +/−45° for insertion of the archwire. 
     
     
         14 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein each slot is formed from two or more sub-slots aligned to receive the archwire. 
     
     
         15 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , wherein the archwire holder is configured to be free to rotate, or have its rotary position constrained by the archwire, a flexible mechanism, a positive location mechanism, a weld and/or an adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 1 , further comprising an archwire retainer which is disposed over the archwire holder to retain the archwire in the archwire holder in use. 
     
     
         17 . An orthodontic bracket according to  claim 16 , wherein the archwire retainer is in the form of a sliding or hinged gate, retention band, ring, or snap on cap. 
     
     
         18 . An orthodontic bracket comprising:
 a base having a rear surface and a front surface, the rear surface configured to be adhered to a surface of a tooth in use; and   an archwire holder which is rotationally mounted to the front surface of the base, the archwire holder being configured to be rotatable around an axis which is perpendicular to the base to within +/−30°,   wherein the archwire holder comprises at least one slot configured to hold an archwire in use, and   wherein the archwire holder is rotatable for receiving the archwire and applying a desired amount and/or orientation of tip to the tooth in use.   
     
     
         19 . An orthodontic brace kit comprising:
 a plurality of orthodontic brackets according to  claim 1 ; and   one or more archwires having a cross-sectional shape for fitting into the slots of the orthodontic brackets.   
     
     
         20 . An orthodontic brace comprising:
 a plurality of orthodontic brackets according to  claim 1 ; and   an archwire disposed in the slots of the orthodontic brackets.